Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #15’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named Podaras #15′, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; sterile white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: (Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia)×Buddleja davidii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PODARAS #15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant, botanically known as (Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia)×Buddleja davidii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Podaras #15’.

The new Buddleja plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Ithaca, N.Y. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and sterile Buddleja plants with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Buddleja plant originated from a cross-pollination on Jul. 12, 2006 in Ithaca, N.Y., of an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed selection of Buddleja davidii, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Buddleja plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Ithaca, N.Y. in August, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Buddleja plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in West Chicago, Ill. since February, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Buddleja plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Buddleja have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Podaras #15’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Podaras #15’ as a new and distinct Buddleja plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Sterile white-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Buddleja differ from plants of the parent selections primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Buddleja are smaller than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Buddleja can be compared to plants of Buddleja davidii ‘White Ball’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Buddleja and ‘White Ball’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Buddleja were shorter and more compact than         plants of ‘White Ball’.     -   2. Plants of the new Buddleja were flatter than and not as         rounded as plants of ‘White Ball’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Buddleja and ‘White Ball’         differed in color as leaves of plants of ‘White Ball’ were         silvery in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Buddleja plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Buddleja plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Podaras #15’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Podaras #15’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Arroyo Grande, Calif. under commercial practice during the summer in 12.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperatures averaging 21° C. and night temperatures averaging 7° C. Plants were pinched two times and were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Buddleja davidii×Buddleja     alternifolia)×Buddleja davidii ‘Podaras #15’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Buddleja             davidii×Buddleja alternifolia, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Buddleja             davidii, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots plant, winter.—About two to three             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About three to four             weeks at temperatures of 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Deciduous perennial shrub; upright and             outwardly spreading plant habit; broad inverted triangle;             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 46 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 42 cm by 62 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About five main branches per             plant. Length: About 44 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode             length: About 2 cm to 5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture,             developing stems: Pubescent. Texture, mature stems: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, developing: Close to 199D. Color, mature:             Close to 194B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 191B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 191C; venation, close to 193A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 138B. Color, lower surface: Close to 193A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate and salverform flowers             arranged in compound terminal and axillary panicles; flowers             face upright and outward; panicles roughly conical in shape;             freely flowering habit with about 60 flower buds and flowers             developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three             months after planting; flowering continuous from spring             until frost in California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about three to four             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to NN155B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower throat, diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube, length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower tube, diameter at base.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl; petals fused into a narrow tube. Lobe length: About             4 mm. Lobe width: About 3 mm. Lobe shape: Roughly spatulate.             Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Entire to slightly             erosulate. Texture, upper and lower lobe surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, throat: Slightly pubescent. Texture,             tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals, upper             surface: Close to NN155D. Developing petals, lower surface:             Close to NN155B. Fully expanded petals, upper surface: Close             to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D. Fully expanded petals,             lower surface: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D.             Throat: Close to 15A; venation, close to 15D. Tube: Close to             159D becoming closer to N170D with development; venation,             close to 159D becoming closer to N170D with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically four in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; campanulate calyx. Length:             About 3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 145B. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 146C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four; filaments adnate to the corolla tube. Filament length:             About 2.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 15A. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close             to 189A. Pollen amount: None. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma             color: Close to 145B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color:             Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Flowers of plants of the new Buddleja are             sterile and seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Buddleja. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Buddleja have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 0° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Buddleja plant named ‘Podaras #15’ as illustrated and described. 